X p potato-chip holder



(N0 Modem 0. L. PERKINS.

POTATO CHIP HOLDER.

No. 422,247. Patented Feb.- 25, 1890 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.-

OTIS L. PERKINS, OF PEABODY, MASSACHUSETTS.

POTATO-CHIP HOLDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 422,247, dated February 25, 1890.

Application filed November 29, 1889. Serial No. 331,989. (No model.) i

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, OTIS L. PERKINS, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Peabody, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements in Potato Chip Holders, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in potato-chip holders adapted for use in groceries or other stores where chips or fried potatoes are retailed, and it is carried out as follows, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 represents a perspective view of the device. Fig. 2 represents a longitudinal section of the same. zontal section on the line X X shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 4. represents a detail perspective view showing the guard above the delivery-opening, and Fig. 5 represents a modified form of such guard.

Similar letters refer to similar parts wherever they occur on the different parts of the drawings.

The device consists of a box or receptacle A of suitable size, having, preferably, transparent sides and front, so that the contents of the said box may readily be seen. The box is secured to a base or bottom piece at, having a front extension 0/, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 8.

A is a hinged or removable cover for closing the upper end of the box after the chips have been placed therein.

Through the lower front end of the box A is made an opening 1), adapted to be closed by means of a hinged door or slide B, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3. Above the opening I) is secured to the inside of the box the arched guard G, the lower side edges of which terminate some distance above the bottom a, as shown in Figs. 2 and a, leaving open spaces 0 0 below such guard edges for the purpose of conducting the chips downward on each side of the said guard toward the opening I), and thus preventing their being clogged on top of the said guard. The sides of the guard terminate at some distance from the sides of the box a, leaving open spaces 0' 0, through Fig. 3 represents a horiwhich the chips are conducted from the guard tothe delivery-opening b, as shown in Fig. 3.

In Fig. 5 I have shown a modified form of the guard, such modification consisting in making it arched over the opening I) in the form of an inverted V. In either construction the guard is arched over the opening I) in a direction from one side wall of the box toward the other side wall and in a line parallel with the front wall having the opening.

Opposite to the delivery-opening b, I secure in a stationary position to the interior back portion of the box A the inclined conductor D, having a series of longitudinal corrugations cl d d, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, for the purpose of gradually guiding the chips toward the opening 11. This conductor-plate inclines down from the rear wall and project ing below the lower side edges of the arched guard is secured directly to the bottom wall of the box.

The chips are removed from the box A by means of an ordinary hand-scoop E, (shown in Fig. 1,) which is inserted through the open-= ing 19 into the lower part of the said box A, and after being filled with the chips the said scoop is withdrawn and the operation re-= peated.

Chips, so called, are very frail and easily broken and have therefore to be handled with great care to prevent their being broken up, and for this reason I employ in the box A the arched guard, with openings at the bottom thereof, and spaces between it and the inside of the box, so as togradually cause the chips to be conducted to the place where they are to be scooped out.

An inclined conductor with a plain surface would. be objectionable in a chip-holder on account of the chips being liable to breakage while being forced downward against such plain surface; but by using a vertically cor rugated or fluted conductor D, as shown and described, the curved chips will be easily conducted toward the delivery opening without being broken. It will readily be seen that as the chips are generally curved they will more easily fit and conform to the longitudinal con== cavities and convexities of the corrugated con duetor D and slide downward. thereon without being broken, as compared with a smooth inclined conductor.

By the use of the arched guard and the longitudinally-corrugated inclined conductor, as

described, the undermost chips in the box A are automatically guided toward the delivery-opening b and removed as occasion may require, thus preventing any stale chips from remaining in the box. 7

I am aware that tea-caddies and spice-boxes of a similar character for grocers use have heretofore been made, such boxes,.l1owever, being provided with a guard extending from side to side of the box; but this construction is objectionable for my purpose, as thereby the chips would be liable to clog up and collect above such guard at the sides of thebox and could not be removed without breaking them. In such spice-boxes a plain inclined conductor has been used; but although serviceable for teas and spices it would be liable to break up chips, and to prevent this I make my inclined conductor fluted or corrugated from its upper to its lower end.

a distance from the sides and bottom of the box to provide the spaces 0 c c c, and the inclined corrugated conductor D, fixed in the box and extending from the rear Wall thereof below the side edges of the arched guard to the bottom wall of the box, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specificatiomin the presence of tWo subscribing witnesses, on this 23d day of November, A. D. 1889.

OTIS L. PERKINS.

Witnesses: I

ALBAN ANDREN, KARL A. AN REN. 

